Dave Martinez Staff Brings 41 Years of MLB Coaching Experience

The Nationals announced the majority of Dave Martinez’s coaching staff Thursday, having officially filled every vacant position except bullpen coach.

Nats GM and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo publicly had expressed a desire to surround his first-time manager with experience, which is exactly what he’s done.

Chip Hale’s hiring was reported Wednesday. He comes from Oakland, where he served as the A’s third base coach in 2017. He has two years of big-league managing experience — with a 148-176 record (.457) for the Diamondbacks over the 2015-16 seasons — and served as Oakland’s bench coach for three seasons prior (2012-14). Hale will hold the same position in Washington.

The newest additions to Martinez’s staff are Derek Lilliquist as pitching coach, Tim Bogar as first base coach and Joe Dillon as assistant hitting coach.

Lilliquist joins Washington’s staff after six years as the Cardinals pitching coach. He’s essentially swapping jobs with Mike Maddux, who left the Nationals for the same role in St. Louis. Lilliquist also served as the Cardinals’ bullpen coach in 2011.

Bogar brings eight years of MLB coaching experience to Washington, having served as bench coach for the Mariners (2016-17), Rangers (2014) and Red Sox (2012). He’s also served as a first and third base coach in Boston. Bogar has a direct connection to Martinez — Bogar was a coaching assistant on Joe Maddon’s 2008 staff in Tampa, Martinez’s first year as Maddon’s bench coach. Bogar also had 22-game stint as interim manager for the Rangers after Ron Washington’s abrupt resignation in 2014.

Dillon rejoins the Nationals organization after two seasons as the Marlins’ minor-league hitting coordinator. He previously served as hitting coach for Washington’s Triple-A affiliate Syracuse from 2014-15.

Kevin Long has 11 years as a big-league hitting coach and will serve in the same role for the Nationals. He previously held the position with the Yankees for eight seasons (2007-14) and the Mets for three (2015-17). He’s largely credited with reconstructing Daniel Murphy’s swing in 2015, the year before Murphy signed a three-year deal with the Nationals.

Bobby Henley resumes his role as third base coach, a role he’s held under two previous Nats skippers, Dusty Baker (2016-17) and Matt Williams (2014-15). Henley’s contract expired along with the rest of the staff after the 2017 season.

In total, Martinez’s staff — still with a bullpen coach vacancy — brings 41 years of Major League coaching experience, including Hale’s two years managing. Here’s how it all stacks up.

Bench Coach: Chip Hale (9 years, plus 2 more as manager)

Pitching Coach: Derek Lilliquist (7)

First Base Coach: Tim Bogar (8, 22 Games as interim manager)

Third Base Coach: Bobby Henley (4)

Hitting Coach: Kevin Long (11)

Asst. Hitting Coach: Joe Dillon (minors)

Bullpen Coach: vacant

This doesn’t include their years of minor league experience. Bogar managed for five seasons in the minors (for Astros, Indians and Angels affiliates) and Hale for six (Diamondbacks). Nor does it include their years, and years and years of playing experience.